GIFT  OF 
Finkerton' s  National 


dt 


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r   P        Jl^       *     \  ^ 


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History  zmd  Evidence 
of  the 

Passage  of 
Abraham 
Lincoln.... 

from  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
to  Washington,  D.C., 
on  the  Twenty-second 
and  Twenty-third  of 
February,  :  Eighteen 
hundred  and  sixty-one 


: 


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Rational  Setertroe 

FOUNDED  BY  ALLAN  PINKERTON,   1850 


ROB'T  A.  PINKERTON,  NEW  YORK                        GEO.  D.  BANGS,    GENERAL   MANAGER,    NEW   YORK 
WM.  A.  PINKERTON,           CHICAGO                      ALLAN  PINKERTON,  ASS'T  GEN.  MGR.,  NEW  YORK 

PRINCIPALS 

JOHN   CORNISH  JAS.   McPARLAND 

MANAGER  EASTERN  DIVISION,   NEW  YORK  MANAGER      WESTERN       DIVISION,       DENVER 

EDW.   S.   GAYLOR  JNO.  C.   FRASER 

MANAGER  MIDDLE  DIVISION,          CHICAGO  MANAGER  PACIFIC  DIVISION,  SAN  FRANCISCO 

OFFICES 

NEW  YORK           PHILADELPHIA             CHICAGO  DENVER                     SAN   FRANCISCO 

BOSTON                  BALTIMORE                   CINCINNATI  KANSAS  CITY        LOS  ANGELES 

MONTREAL           PITTSBURGH                ST.   PAUL  OMAHA                       SEATTLE 

BUFFALO                CLEVELAND                   ST.   LOUIS  SPOKANE                  PORTLAND,  ORE. 


M138339 


1868. 
Pinkerton's  National  Detective  Agency, 

ALLAN  PINKERTON,  Principal.  GEO.  H.  BANGS,  Gen.  Supt. 


To  THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHICAGO,  JAN.  8,  1868. 

The  question  of  the  passage  of  Mr.  Lincoln, 
on  the  night  of  the  22d  of  February,  1861,  from 
Harrisburg,    Penn.,  to  Washington,   D.  C,   the 
Capitol  of  the  United  States,  is  one  of  marked 
interest  in  history,  and  one  upon  which  the  peo 
ple  of  this  country,  and  the  world,  ought  to  have 
correct  information.    Hitherto  I  have  kept  silent 
upon  this  subject,  and  probably  might  have  con 
tinued  so  much  longer,  but  that  historians  are 
now  writing  up  the  important  events  of  the  last 
seven  years — a  period  the  most  exciting  in  the 
life-time  of  this  Nation — up  to  the  present  stage 
of  its  existence,  and  I  deem  it  proper  to  lay  the 
following  brief  statement   before  the  public  in 
connection  with  this  event.    I  am  induced,  more 
over,  to  take  this  step  from  the  fact  of  the  publi 
cation,  in  the  second  volume  of  Lossing's  History 


of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  of  a  letter  from 
John  A.  Kennedy,  Esq.,  Superintendent  of  the 
Metropolitan  Police  of  New  York  City,  dated 
New  York,  August  13,  1867,  in  which  Mr. 
Kennedy  speaks  of  the  acts  of  himself  and  his 
detective  force,  in  discovering  the  plot  for  the 
assassination  of  President  Lincoln,  on  his  pas 
sage  through  Baltimore,  en  route  to  Washington, 
for  inauguration  as  President.  This  letter  has 
had  so  wide  a  circulation  in  the  press  of  the 
United  States  that  it  will  be  unnecessary  for  me 
to  insert  the  whole  of  it  here.  I  merely  desire 
to  call  attention  to  the  following  words  : 

"  I  know  nothing  of  any  connection  of  Mr. 
Pinkerton  with  the  matter." 

That  is  to  say,  Mr.  Kennedy  knew  nothing  of 
my  connection  with  the  passage  of  Mr.  Lincoln 
from  Harrisburg,  via  Philadelphia,  to  Washing 
ton,  on  the  22d  of  February,  1861.  In  this 
respect,  Mr.  Kennedy  spoke  the  truth  :  he  did 
not  know  of  my  connection  with  the  passage  of 
Mr.  Lincoln,  nor  was  it  my  intention  that  he 
should  know  of  it.  Secrecy  is  the  one  thing 
most  necessary  to  the  success  of  the  detective, 
and  when  a  secret  is  to  be  kept,  the  fewer  who 
know  of  it  the  better.  It  was  unnecessary  for 

6 


Mr.  Kennedy  to  know  of  my  connection  with 
that  passage,  and  hence  he  was  not  apprised  of 
it.  I  am  aware  that  Mr.  Kennedy  is  a  loyal 
man,  and  has  done  much  service  for  the  Union 
cause ;  but  it  was  not  necessary  that  every 
Unionist  should  be  informed  that  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  about  to  make  an  important  movement. 
Therefore,  the  secret  was  imparted  only  to  those 
whom  it  was  necessary  should  know  it.  With 
this  preface,  my  statement  will  be  brief. 

About  the  middle  of  January,  1861,  I  was  in 
Philadelphia,  and  had  an  interview  on  other 
.  matters  with  S.  M.  Felton,  Esq.,  at  that  time 
President  of  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and 
Baltimore  Railroad,  in  which  Mr.  Felton  men 
tioned  that  he  had  suspicions  that  the  secession 
ists  of  Maryland  were  bound  to  injure  his  road, 
either  by  destroying  the  ferry-boat  which  carried 
the  trains  across  the  Susquehanna  River  at 
Havre  de  Grace,  or  by  the  destruction  of  the 
railroad  bridges  over  the  Gunpowder  River  and 
other  streams.  Mr.  Felton  felt  very  desirous  to 
protect  his  road  from  injury  or  obstruction  by 
the  "  secessionists,"  as  they  were  at  that  time 
called,  but  afterwards  more  familiarly  known  as 
"rebels,"  who  were  then  busily  engaged  in  plot- 

7 


ting  the  treason  which  shortly  afterwards  culmi 
nated  in  open  rebellion.  Mr.  Felton  well  knew 
that  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Balti 
more  Railroad  was  the  only  connecting  link 
between  the  great  commercial  emporium  of  the 
United  States  and  the  Capitol  of  the  Nation, 
and  appreciated  fully  the  necessity  of  keeping 
that  link  unbroken.  He  desired  that  I  would 
consider  the  matter  fully,  and,  promising  to  do 
so,  I  returned  to  my  home  in  Chicago. 

On  the  2;th  of  January,  1861,  I  wrote  to  Mr. 
Felton  my  views  upon  this  subject.  They  were 
not  given  in  connection  with  secession,  but  as  to 
what  detective  ability  might  do  to  discover  the 
plots  and  plans  of  those  who  might  be  contem 
plating  the  destruction  of  any  portion  of  this 
great  and  important  link  between.  New  York 
and  Washington. 

On  the  3Oth  of  January,  I  received  a  telegram 
from  Mr.  Felton,  requesting  me  to  come  to 
Philadelphia,  and  take  with  me  such  of  my  force 
as  might  be  necessary,  with  a  view  to  commenc 
ing  the  detective  operations  to  which  I  had  al 
luded  in  my  letter  to  him  of  the  27th. 

On  the  ist  of  February,  1861,  I  accordingly 
left  Chicago  with  such  of  my  detective  force, 


male  and  female,  as  I  thought  adequate  for  the 
purpose  required.  We  duly  arrived  in  Philadel 
phia,  and  after  consultation  with  Messrs.  Felton 
and  Stearns,  of  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington 
and  Baltimore  Railroad,  I  repaired  with  my  force 
to  Baltimore  and  there  established  my  head 
quarters. 

While  engaged  in  the  investigations  spoken 
of,  as  relating  to  the  safety  of  the  Philadelphia, 
Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad  track,  my 
self  and  detectives  accidentally  acquired  the 
knowledge  that  a  plot  was  in  existence  for  the 
assassination  of  Mr.  Lincoln  on  his  passage 
through  Baltimore  to  Washington,  to  be  inau 
gurated  as  President.  The  plot  was  well  con 
ceived,  and  would,  I  am  convinced,  have  been 
effective  for  the  purpose  designed.  This  infor 
mation  was  acquired  by  me  while  in  the  service 
of  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore 
Railroad,  who  were  paying  me  for  my  services, 
and  although  I  felt  impelled  by  my  sense  of  duty, 
and  my  long  friendship  for  Mr.  Lincoln,  (we 
both  being  old  citizens  of  Illinois,)  to  impart  the 
same  to  him,  yet,  knowing  the  loyalty  of  Mr.  Fel 
ton,  I  desired  his  acquiescence  in  so  doing.  I  ac 
cordingly  imparted  the  information  of  the  plot  to 


Mr.  Stearns,  and  through  him  to  Mr.  Felton,  and 
received  from  both  these  gentlemen  the  authority 
to  impart  the  facts  to  Hon.  Norman  B.  Judd,  the 
warm  and  intimate  personal  friend  of  Mr.  Lin 
coln,  who  was  accompanying  the  President-elect 
on  the  tour  from  Springfield  to  Washington. 

Nothing  further,  I  believe,  is  necessary  from 
myself  on  this  affair,  as  the  evidence  which  ac 
companies  this  statement  is  all  that  is  necessary 
to  show  how  far  I  speak  truthfully.  It  would  be 
egotistical  on  my  part  to  parade  before  the 
public  my  acts.  I  hold  proofs  in  addition  to 
those,  which  are  now  furnished  to  the  public,  in 
my  possession.  A  few  words  more,  and  those 
only  in  relation  to  one  who  is  now  dead,  a 
martyr  to  the  cause  of  the  Union,  who  lies  in 
unhallowed  soil, 

"  Unwept,  unhonored  and  unsung." 

I  allude  to  Timothy  Webster,  one  of  my  de 
tective  force,  who  accompanied  me  upon  this 
eventful  occasion.  He  served  faithfully  as  a 
detective  amongst  the  secessionists  of  Maryland, 
and  acquired  many  valuable  and  important  se 
crets.  He,  amongst  all  of  the  force  who  went 
with  me,  deserves  the  credit  of  saving  the  life  of 
Mr.  Lincoln,  even  more  than  I  do.  He  was  a 


10 


native  of  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  a  life-long  dem 
ocrat,  but  he  felt   and  realized,  with    Jackson, 
that  the  Union  must  and  should  be  preserved. 
He  continued  in  my  detective  service,  and  after 
I  assumed  charge  of  the  secret  service  of  the 
Army  of   the  Potomac,    under   Major    General 
McClellan,  Mr.  Webster  was  most  of  the  time 
within  the  rebel  lines.     True,  he  was  called  a 
spy,  and  martial  law  says  that  a  spy,  when  con 
victed,    shall  die.       Still  spies  are  necessary  in 
war,  ever  have  been  and  ever  will  be.     Timothy 
Webster  was  arrested  in  Richmond,  and  upon 
the  testimony  of  members  of  a  secesh  family  in 
-    Washington,  named  Levi,  for  whom  I  had  done 
some  acts  of  kindness,  he  was  convicted  as  a  spy, 
and  executed  by  order  of  Jefferson  Davis,  on  the 
3Oth  of  April,  1862.     His  name  is  unknown  to 
fame  ;  but  few  were  truer  or  more  devoted  to 
the  Union  cause  than  was  Timothy  Webster. 

With  this  statement,  I  herewith  subjoin  the 
following  letters,  which  are  proof  of  my  partici 
pation  in  the  passage  of  Mr.  Lincoln  from  Har- 
risburg,  via  Philadelphia,  to  Washington,  on  the 
night  of  the  22d  of  February,  1861.  As  I  have 
before  said,  it  was  unnecessary  that  Mr.  Kennedy 
should  know  aught  of  the  movement  that  was 


going  on,  and  I  did  not  advise  him  of  it ;  although 
I  am  informed  that  he  was  on  the  same  train  and 
occupied  the  third  berth  in  the  same  sleeping 
car  from  that  where  Mr.  Lincoln  lay  on  that 
eventful  night  of  his  passage  to  Washington 
from  Philadelphia. 

ALLAN  PINKERTON. 


12 


MR.  LINCOLN'S  STATEMENT. 

Extract  from  Los singes  History  of  the  War,  Vol.  /,  Page  278. 


"  Mr.  Judd,  a  warm  personal  friend  from 
Chicago,  sent  for  me  to  come  to  his  room  (at  the 
Continental  Hotel,  Philadelphia,  Feb.  2ist).  I 
went,  and  found  there  Mr.  Pinkerton,  a  skillful 
police  detective,  also  from  Chicago,  who  had 
been  employed  for  some  days  in  Baltimore, 
watching  or  searching  for  suspicious  persons 
'there.  Pinkerton  informed  me  that  a  plan  had 
been  laid  for  my  assassination,  the  exact  time 
when  I  expected  to  go  through  Baltimore  being 
publicly  known.  He  was  well  informed  as  to  the 
plan,  but  did  not  know  that  the  conspirators 
would  have  pluck  enough  to  execute  it.  He 
urged  me  to  go  right  through  with  him  to  Wash 
ington  that  night.  I  didn't  like  that.  I  had 
made  engagements  to  visit  Harrisburg,  and  go 
from  there  to  Baltimore,  and  I  resolved  to  do  so. 
I  could  not  believe  that  there  was  a  plot  to 
murder  me.  I  made  arrangements,  however, 
with  Mr.  Judd  for  my  return  to  Philadelphia  the 

13 


next  night,  if  I  should  be  convinced  that  there 
was  danger  in  going  through  Baltimore.  I  told 
him  that  if  I  should  meet  at  Harrisburg,  as  I  had 
at  other  places,  a  delegation  to  go  with  me  to 
the  next  place,  (Baltimore,)  I  should  feel  safe 
and  go  on.  When  I  was  making  my  way  back 
to  my  room,  through  crowds  of  people,  I  met 
Frederick  Seward.  We  went  together  to  my 
room,  when  he  told  me  that  he  had  been  sent,  at 
the  instance  of  his  father  and  General  Scott,  to 
inform  me  that  their  detectives  in  Baltimore  had 
discovered  a  plot  there  to  assassinate  me.  They 
knew  nothing  of  Mr.  Pinkertori s  movements.  I 
now  believed  such  a  plot  to  be  in  existence." 


LETTERS. 


[LETTER  OF  S.  M.  FELTON,  ESQ.] 

THURLOW,  Dec.  3ist,   1867. 
ALLAN  PINKERTON,  ESQ. 

Dear  Sir: — In  answer  to  your  inquiries  as  to  your  agency  in 
ferreting  out  the  plot  to  assassinate  Mr.  Lincoln,  on  his  first 
journey  to  Washington,  and  in  aiding  him  on  his  journey  to 
the  Capitol,  prior  to  his  inauguration  in  1861,  I  have  to  say,  that 
early  in  that  year,  and  while  I  was  President  of  the  Philadelphia, 
Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad,  I  employed  you  as  a 
detective  to  ascertain  the  truth  or  falsity  of  certain  rumors  that 
had  come  to  my  ear  as  to  the  designs  of  the  secessionists  upon 
our  road,  etc.  I  told  you  only  a  part  of  the  rumors  that  I 
had  heard,  only  sufficient  to  put  you  on  the  track.  You  employed 
a  force  of  some  eight  or  nine  assistants,  and  among  other  things 
made  certain  to  my  mind  that  there  was  a  thoroughly  matured 
plot  to  assassinate  the  President-elect,  on  his  journey  to  Wash 
ington.  After  which  I  met  you  at  a  hotel,  in  Philadelphia,  on  the 
evening  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  arrival  there,  in  company  with  Mr.  Judd, 
Mr.  Lincoln's  intimate  friend,  when  the  whole  plot  was  made 
known  to  him.  After  which  Mr.  Lincoln  was  seen  by  you  and 
Mr.  Judd,  and  made  acquainted  with  all  the  facts.  He  declined 
to  go  to  Washington  in  our  sleeping  car  that  night,  as  was 
my  advice,  but  said  that  after  going  to  Harrisburg  the  next  day 
he  would  put  himself  in  our  hands.  It  was  then  arranged  that 
he  should  be  brought  from  Harrisburg  to  Philadelphia  the  next 
night  by  special  train,  and  then  go  to  Washington  by  our  night 
line  in  the  sleeping  car,  accompanied  by  yourself  and  one  or 
two  of  his  friends.  The  telegraph  lines  in  all  directions  were 
cut,  so  that  no  tidings  of  his  movements  could  be  sent  from 
Harrisburg,  and  all  was  carried  out  successfully. 

In  all  these  movements  you  were  the  only  detective  employed 

15 


by  me,  and  the  only  one  who  was  conversant  with  Mr.  Lincoln's 
movements,  so  far  as  I  knew.  All  the  movements  of  the  train, 
in  which  Mr.  Lincoln  went  from  Philadelphia,  were  under  my 
directions,  and  no  other  detective  than  yourself  had  any  connec 
tion  with  them  in  any  way,  unless  it  might  have  been  as  an  or 
dinary  passenger. 

You  certainly  were  the  only  one  who  gave  me  any  informa 
tion  upon  the  subject,  or  who  had  anything  to  do  with  the 
planning  of  the  journey,  or  who  had  accompanied  Mr.  Lincoln, 
as  a  detective  officer,  and  quasi  guard. 

Mr.  George  Stearns,  then  roadmaster,  and  Mr.  William 
Stearns,  then  Superintendent,  went  with  you,  one  to  Baltimore, 
and  the  other  from  Baltimore  to  Washington. 

I  have  written  a  full  account  of  the  events  prior  to  Mr.  Lin 
coln's  first  journey,  of  the  journey  itself,  and  of  the  events  imme 
diately  subsequent  to  the  same,  for  Mr.  Lossing,  and  have  de 
tailed  therein  more  fully  the  part  you  had  in  them  all,  and  I 
refer  you  to  that  when  published  for  all  the  particulars. 

Yours  truly,  S.  M.  FELTON. 


16 


[LETTER  OF  HON.  N.  B.  JUDD.J 

CHICAGO,  ILL.,  Nov.  3d,  1867. 
MR.  ALLAN  PINKERTON. 

Sir:— Yours  of  the  3ist  ult,  enclosing  a  letter  of  Mr.  Ken 
nedy  to  Mr.  Lossing,  relating  to  the  conspiracy  to  assassinate 
Mr.  Lincoln  on  his  passage  through  Baltimore  in  February,  1861, 
and  printed  in  the  second  volume  of  Mr.  Lossing's  "History  of 
the  War,"  I  found  on  my  table  last  evening,  on  my  return  from 
the  country.  Notwithstanding  the  various  publications  in  the 
papers,  purporting  to  give  accounts  of  that  matter,  some  of 
which  were  grossly  inaccurate,  I  have  refrained  from  publishing 
anything  in  relation  thereto;  but  the  historian  is  making  a  per 
manent  record,  and  I  cannot,  in  justice  to  you,  refuse  to  make 
a  statement  of  the  facts,  within  my  personal  knowledge. 

As  you  suggest,  I  was  one  of  the  party  who  accompanied  Mr. 
Lincoln  from  Springfield  to  Washington.  When  the  party 
reached  Cincinnati,  I  received  a  letter  from  you,  dated  at 
Baltimore,  stating  that  there  was  a  plot  on  foot  to  assassinate 
Mr.  Lincoln  on  his  passage  through  that  city,  and  that  you 
would  communicate  further  as  the  party  progressed  Eastward. 

Knowing  that  you  were  at  that  point,  with  your  detective 
force,  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  the  Philadelphia  and  Balti 
more  Railroad  against  the  attempt  by  the  traitors  to  destroy  the 
same,  the  information  thus  sent  made  a  deep  impression  upon 
me,  but  to  avoid  causing  anxiety  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Lincoln, 
or  any  of  the  party,  I  kept  this  information  to  myself.  At 
Buffalo  I  received  a  second  brief  note  from  you  saying  that 
the  evidence  was  accumulating.  No  further  communication  on 
that  subject  was  received  until  we  arrived  in  the  City  of  New 
York.  In  the  evening  of  the  day  of  our  arrival  at  the  Astor 
House,  a  servant  came  to  my  room  and  informed  me  that 
there  was  a  lady  in  No.  ,  who  wished  to  see  me.  Gen.  Pope 
was  in  my  room  at  the  time.  I  followed  the  servant  to  one  of 
the  upper  rooms  of  the  hotel,  where,  upon  entering,  I  found  a 
lady  seated  at  a  table  with  some  papers  before  her.  She  arose  as 
I  entered  and  said,  "Mr.  Judd,  I  presume,"  and  I  responded, 
"Yes,  madam,"  and  she  handed  me  a  letter  from  you,  introducing 

17 


her  as  Mrs.  Warne,  superintendent  of  the  female  detective  de 
partment  of  your  police  force.  She  stated  that  you  did  not  like 
to  trust  the  mail  in  so  important  a  matter,  and  that  she  had  been 
sent  to  arrange  for  a  personal  interview  between  yourself  and 
me,  at  which  all  the  proofs  relating  to  the  conspiracy  could  be 
submitted  to  me.  It  was  accordingly  arranged  that  immediately 
after  the  arrival  of  the  party  in  Philadelphia  you  should  notify 
me  at  what  place  I  should  meet  you.  I  informed  her  that  I 
should  be  in  the  carriage  with  Mr.  Lincoln  from  the  depot  to  the 
Continental  Hotel.  During  this  interview  with  Mrs.  Warne, 
Col.  E.  S.  Sanford,  President  of  the  American  Telegraph  Com 
pany,  called  and  Mrs.  Warne  introduced  him  to  me.  He  showed 
me  a  letter  from  you  to  him,  relating  to  this  affair,  and  tendered 
me  the  use  of  his  lines  for  any  communication  I  might  have  to 
make,  and  also  his  personal  service  if  needed. 

At  Philadelphia,  while  riding  from  the  depot  to  the  hotel, 
in  the  carriage  with  Mr.  Lincoln,  a  file  of  policemen  being  on 
each  side  of  the  carriage,  I  saw  a  young  man  walking  on  the 
outside  of  the  line  of  policemen  who  was  evidently  trying  to  at 
tract  my  attention.  At  about  the  corner  of  Broad  and  Chestnut 
sts.  the  young  man  crowded  through  the  line  of  policemen,  nearly 
upsetting  two  of  them,  came  to  the  side  of  the  carriage  and 
handed  me  a  piece  of  paper  on  which  was  written,  "St.  Louis 
Hotel,  ask  for  J.  H.  Hutchinson."  I  afterwards  ascertained  that 
this  messenger  was  Mr.  Burns,  one  of  Col.  Sanford's  telegraphic 
force. 

Immediately  after  the  arrival  of  the  carriage  at  the  Conti 
nental  I  went  to  the  St.  Louis  Hotel,  and  being  shown  up  to 
Hutchinson's  room  I  found  3^011  and  Mr.  S.  M.  Felton,  President 
of  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and  Baltimore  Railroad  Com 
pany,  together  awaiting  my  arrival.  An  hour  and  more  was 
spent  in  examining  and  analyzing  the  proofs  upon  which  you 
based  your  belief  in  the  plot,  and  the  result  was  a  perfect  con 
viction,  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Felton  and  myself,  that  the  plot  was 
a  reality,  and  that  Mr.  Lincoln's  safety  required  him  to  proceed 
to  Washington  that  evening  in  the  eleven  o'clock  train.  I  ex 
pressed  the  opinion  that  Mr.  Lincoln  would  not  go  that  night, 
but  I  proposed  that  you  should  immediately  accompany  me  to 

18 


the  Continental  Hotel,  and  lay  the  proofs  before  Mr.  Lincoln,  as 
he  was  an  old  acquaintance  and  friend  of  yours,  and  to  my 
knowledge  had  occasion  before  this  time  to  test  your  reliability 
and  prudence.  On  proceeding  to  the  hotel  we  found  the  people 
assembled  in  such  masses  that  our  only  means  of  entrance  was 
through  the  rear  by  the  servant's  door.  We  went  to  my  room, 
which  was  on  the  same  floor  with  the  ladies'  parlor,  and  sent  for 
Mr.  Lincoln.  He  was  then  in  one  of  the  large  parlors,  sur 
rounded  by  ladies  and  gentlemen.  I  think  Mr.  Nicolay,  his 
private  secretary,  took  the  message  to  him.  Mr.  Lincoln  came 
to  my  room,  forcing  his  way  through  the  crowd,  and  all  the 
proofs  and  facts  were  laid  before  him  in  detail,  he  canvassing 
them  and  subjecting  you  to  a  thorough  cross-examination.  After 
this  had  been  done,  I  stated  to  him  the  conclusion  to  which  Mr. 
Felton,  yourself  and  myself  had  arrived.  "But,"  I  added,  "the 
proofs  that  have  now  been  laid  before  you  cannot  be  published" 
as  it  would  involve  the  lives  of  several  of  Mr.  Pinkerton's  force, 
and  especially  that  of  poor  Tim  Webster,  who  was  then  serving 
in  a  rebel  cavalry  company,  under  drill  at  Ferryman's  in  Mary 
land.  I  further  remarked  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  "If  you  follow  the 
course  suggested — of  proceeding  to  Washington  to-night — you 
will  necessarily  be  subjected  to  the  scoffs  and  sneers  of  your 
enemies,  and  the  disapproval  of  your  friends,  who  cannot  be 
made  to  believe  in  the  existence  of  so  desperate  a  plot." 

Mr.  Lincoln  replied  that  he  "appreciated  these  suggestions," 
but  that  he  "could  stand  anything  that  was  necessary."  Then 
rising  from  his  seat  he  said  "I  cannot  go  to-night.  I  have 
promised  to  raise  the  flag  over  Independence  Hall  to-morrow 
morning,  and  to  visit  the  Legislature  at  Harrisburg,  beyond 
that  I  have  no  engagements.  Any  plan  that  may  be  adopted 
that  will  enable  me  to  fulfil  these  two  promises  I  will  carry 
out,  and  you  can  tell  me  what  is  concluded  upon  to-morrow." 
Mr.  Lincoln  then  left  the  room,  without  any  apparent  agitation. 
During  this  interview  Col.  Ward  H.  Lamon  entered  the  room, 
but  left  immediately.  A  few  minutes  after,  Mr.  Henry  Sanford, 
as  the  representative  of  Col.  E.  S.  Sanford,  President  of  the 
American  Telegraph  Co.,  came  into  the  room.  You  then  left 
for  the  purpose  of  finding  Thomas  A.  Scott,  Esq.,  Vice-President 


of  the  Pennsylvania  Central  Railroad,  and  also  to  notify  Mr. 
Felton,  who  was  waiting  at  the  La  Pierre  House,  of  your  report 
of  the  interview  with  Mr.  Lincoln. 

About  twelve  o'clock  you  returned,  bringing  with  you  Mr. 
G.  C.  Franciscus,  General  Manager  of  the  Pennsylvania  Central 
Railroad,  saying  that  you  were  not  able  to  find  Mr.  Scott,  who 
was  out  of  town. 

A  full  discussion  of  the  entire  matter  was  had  between  us, 
the  party  consisting  of  Mr.  Franciscus,  Mr.  Sanford,  yourself 
and  myself.  After  all  the  contingencies  that  could  be  imagined 
had  been  discussed  the  following  programme  was  adopted :  That 
after  the  reception  at  Harrisburg,  a  special  train  should  leave 
the  latter  place  at  six  p.  m.,  consisting  of  a  baggage  car  and 
one  passenger  car  to  convey  Mr.  Lincoln  and  one  companion 
back  to  Philadelphia ;  that  that  train  was  to  be  under  the  con 
trol  of  Mr.  Franciscus  and  Mr.  Enoch  Lewis,  General  Superin 
tendent;  that  the  track  was  to  be  cleared  of  everything  between 
Harrisburg  and  Philadelphia  from  half-past  five  until  after  the 
passage  of  the  special  train;  that  Mr.  Felton  should  detain  the 
eleven  o'clock  p.  m.  Baltimore  train  until  the  arrival  of  the 
special  train  from  Harrisburg;  that  Mrs.  Warne  should  engage 
berths  in  the  sleeping  car  bound  for  Baltimore;  that  you  should 
meet  Mr.  Lincoln  with  a  carriage  at  West  Philadelphia,  on  the 
arrival  of  the  special  train,  and  carry  him  to  the  Baltimore  train ; 
that  Mr.  Sanford  was  to  make  it  perfectly  certain  that  no 
telegraphic  message  should  pass  over  the  wires  from  six  o'clock 
the  next  evening  until  Mr.  Lincoln's  arrival  in  Washington  was 
known ;  that  Ward  H.  Lamon  should  accompany  Mr.  Lincoln. 

Every  supposed  possible  contingency  was  discussed  and  re- 
discussed,  and  the  party  separated  at  half-past  four  that  morn 
ing  to  carry  out  the  programme  agreed  upon.  At  six  that  morn 
ing  Mr.  Lincoln  fulfilled  his  promise  by  raising  the  flag  over 
Independence  Hall,  and  I  have  always  believed  that  the  tinge 
of  sadness  which  pervaded  his  remarks  on  that  occasion,  and 
the  reference  to  sacrificing  himself  for  his  country,  were  induced 
by  the  incidents  of  the  night  preceding. 

Later  in  the  morning — and  I  think  about  eight  o'clock — 
Mr.  Lincoln  sent  for  me  to  come  to  his  room.  I  went  and  found 


>   .>          o  I 


ALLAN    PINKERTON 

I860 


Mr.  Frederick  H.  S'eward  with  Mr.  Lincoln.  Mr.  Lincoln  said 
to  me  that  Mr.  Seward  had  been  sent  from  Washington  by  his 
father  to  warn  him  of  danger  in  passing  through  Baltimore,  and 
to  urge  him  to  come  directly  to  Washington.  I  do  not  think 
that  Mr.  Seward  stated  to  me  the  facts  upon  which  his  father's 
convictions  were  founded,  but  the  knowledge  that  from  an  en 
tirely  independent  line  of  testimony  to  that  which  you  had  fur 
nished  the  preceding  night,  had  led  Gov.  Seward  to  the  same 
conclusion,  that  there  was  danger,  strengthened  my  own  convic 
tions  of  the  propriety  of  the  course  marked  out.  I  told  Mr. 
Seward  that  he  could  say  to  his  father  that  all  had  been  arranged, 
and  that  so  far  as  human  foresight  could  predict,  Mr.  Lincoln 
would  be  in  Washington  at  six  a.  m.  the  next  day,  that  he  un 
derstood  the  absolute  necessity  for  secrecy  in  the  matter.  I 
do  not  think  I  gave  him  any  of  the  details,  but  I  am  not  positive 
on  that  point. 

After  the  train  left  Philadelphia  for  Harrisburg,  and  as  soon 
as  I  could  get  a  word  with  Mr.  Lincoln  alone,  I  told  him  the 
proposed  plan  of  operations,  and  that  I  felt  exceedingly  the 
responsibility,  as  no  member  of  the  party  had  been  informed  of 
anything  connected  with  the  matter,  and  that  it  was  due  to  the 
gentlemen  of  the  party  that  they  should  be  advised  with  and 
consulted  in  so  important  a  step.  It  is  proper  to  add,  that  Col. 
Lamon,  Mr.  Nicolay  and  Col.  Ellsworth  knew  that  something 
was  on  foot,  but  very  judiciously  refrained  from  asking  ques 
tions.  To  the  above  suggestion  Mr.  Lincoln  assented,  adding, 
"I  reckon  they  will  laugh  at  us,  Judd,  but  you  had  better  get 
them  together."  It  was  arranged  that  after  the  reception  at 
the  State  House,  and  before  dinner,  the  matter  should  be  fully 
laid  before  the  following  gentlemen  of  the  party:  Judge  David 
Davis,  Col.  Sumner,  Major  David  Hunter,  Capt.  John  Pope, 
Ward  H.  Lamon  and  John  G.  Nicolay. 

The  meeting  thus  arranged  took  place  in  the  parlor  of  the 
hotel,  Mr.  Lincoln  being  present.  The  facts  were  laid  before 
them  by  me,  together  with  the  details  of  the  proposed  plan  of 
action.  There  was  a  diversity  of  opinion  and  some  warm  dis 
cussion,  and  I  was  subjected  to  a  very  rigid  cross-examination. 
Judge  Davis,  who  had  expressed  no  opinion  but  contented  him- 


21 


self  with  asking  rather  pointed  questions,  turned  to  Mr.  Lincoln, 
who  had  been  listening  to  the  whole  discussion,  and  said: 
"Well,  Mr.  Lincoln,  what  is  your  judgment  upon  this  matter?" 
Mr.  Lincoln  replied :  "I  have  thought  over  this  matter  consid 
erably  since  I  went  over  the  ground  with  Pinkerton  last  night. 
The  appearance  of  Mr.  Frederick  Seward,  with  warning  from 
another  source,  confirms  my  belief  in  Mr.  Pinkerton's  statement. 
Unless  there  are  some  other  reasons,  besides  fear  of  ridicule, 
I  am  disposed  to  carry  out  Judd's  plan."  Judge  Davis  then 
said:  "That  settles  the  matter,  gentlemen."  Col.  Sumner  said: 
"So  be  it,  gentlemen.  It  is  against  my  judgment,  but  I  have 
undertaken  to  go  to  Washington  with  Mr.  Lincoln  and  I  shall 
do  it."  I  tried  to  convince  him  that  every  additional  person 
added  to  the  risk,  but  the  spirit  of  the  gallant  old  soldier  was 
up,  and  debate  was  useless. 

The  party  separated  about  four  p.  m.,  the  others  to  go  to  the 
dinner  table,  and  myself  to  go  to  the  railroad  station  and  the 
telegraph  office.  At  a  quarter  of  six  I  was  back  at  the  hotel, 
and  Mr.  Lincoln  was  still  at  the  table.  In  a  few  moments  the 
carriage  drove  up  to  the  side  door  of  the  hotel.  Either  Mr. 
Nicolay  or  Mr.  Lamon  called  Mr.  Lincoln  from  the  table.  He 
went  to  his  room,  changed  his  dinner  dress  for  a  traveling  suit, 
and  came  down  with  a  soft  hat  sticking  in  his  pocket,  and  his 
shawl  on  his  arm.  As  the  party  passed  through  the  hall,  I  said 
in  a  low  tone:  "Lamon,  go  ahead.  As  soon  as  Mr.  Lincoln  is 
in  the  carriage,  drive  off.  The  crowd  must  not  be  allowed  to 
identify  him."  Mr.  Lamon  went  first  to  the  carriage.  Col. 
Sumner  was  following  close  after  Mr.  Lincoln.  I  put  my  hand 
gently  on  his  shoulder.  He  turned  round  to  see  what  was  wanted, 
and  before  I  had  time  to  explain  the  carriage  was  off.  The 
situation  was  a  little  awkward,  to  use  no  stronger  terms,  for  a 
few  moments.  I  said  to  the  Colonel:  "When  we  get  to  Wash 
ington  Mr.  Lincoln  shall  determine  what  apology  is  due  to 
you."  Mr.  Franciscus  and  Mr.  Lewis,  in  charge  of  that  special 
train,  took  Mr.  Lincoln  and  Mr.  Lamon  safely  to  West  Philadel 
phia,  and  at  that  station  you  met  them  with  a  carriage  and  took 
them  to  the  Baltimore  train,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  immediately  re 
tired  to  his  berth  in  the  sleeping  car.  No  one  but  the  persons 


22 


herein  named,  not  even  his  own  family,  knew  where  Mr.  Lincoln 
was,  until  the  next  morning's  telegraph  announced  that  he  was 
in  Washington.  To  get  away  from  questioning,  I  went  to  my 
room  about  nine  o'clock  and  staid  there  until  about  one,  when 
a  dispatch  reached  me  from  Philadelphia  saying  that  to  that 
point  all  was  right. 

Mr.  Kennedy  can  test  the  accuracy  of  these  facts,  as  to  whom 
credit  is  due  for  arranging  for  the  safety  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  by 
reference  to  the  gentlemen  named  herein,  and  I  have  purposely 
given  these  in  detail  so  that  any  doubting  person  can  verify  or 
contradict  them. 

On  our  journey  to  Washington  I  had  seen  how  utterly  help 
less  the  party  were,  even  amongst  friends  and  with  a  loyal  police 
force,  as  Gen.  Hunter  had  his  shoulders  broken  in  Buffalo  in  the 
crowd  and  jam. 

The  same  spirit  that  slaughtered  the  Massachusetts  soldiers 
at  Baltimore;  that  laid  low,  by  the  hand  of  an  assassin,  that 
great  and  good  man  at  the  commencement  of  his  second  term, 
had  prepared  to  do  that  deed  to  prevent  his  first  inauguration, 
and  I  know  that  the  first  warning  of  danger  that  Mr.  Lincoln 
received  came  from  you,  and  that  his  passage,  in  safety,  through 
Baltimore,  was  accomplished  in  the  manner  above  described. 

Respectfully  yours,  N.  B.  JUDD. 


[LETTER  OF  WILLIAM  STEARNS.] 

PHILADELPHIA,   PENN.,   Dec.   4th,   1867. 

ALLAN  PINKERTON,  ESQ.,  Chicago,  111. 

Dear  Sir: — In  the  early  part  of  January,  1861,  I  had  a  con 
versation  with  Mr.  Felton  in  relation  to  our  road.  I  was,  at  that 
time,  Master  Machinist  of  the  road.  We  had  received  some  re 
ports  that  our  road  would  be  destroyed  by  Southern  secessionists, 
and  thus  cut  Washington  off  from  railroad  communication  with 
the  North.  In  conversation  with  Col.  Bingham,  Superintendent 
Adams  Express,  he  advised  Mr.  Felton  to  see  you  in  regard  to 
the  matter.  Mr.  Felton  wrote  to  you  upon  the  subject  with  a 
view  to  securing  your  services  and  those  of  your  force  that 
might  be  deemed  advisable,  in  ascertaining  if  the  secessionists 
had  any  designs  upon  our  road,  and  if  so,  what  they  were.  In 
the  meantime  I  went  to  Baltimore  on  several  different  occasions 
and  still  heard  these  reports  about  the  destruction  of  our  road. 
In  the  meantime  you  arrived  from  Chicago  with  part  of  your 
force  which  was  stationed  between  Baltimore  and  Havre  De 
Grace.  I  learned  of  two  companies  being  formed,  one  at  Perry- 
mansville  and  one  at  Bel  Air,  from  information  I  received,  I 
was  satisfied  they  were  formed  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  our 
road.  Mr.  Felton  and  myself  met  you  in  Baltimore  after  you 
became  established  in  that  city  and  arranged  for  a  cypher  to  be 
used  between  us  in  the  transmission  of  messages. 

On  the  night  of  Feb.  gih  I  sent  you  a  letter  as  follows: 
"Yours  of  the  6th  inst.  received.  I  am  informed  that  a  son  of  a 
distinguished  citizen  of  Maryland  said  that  he  had  taken  an 
oath  with  others  to  assassinate  Mr.  Lincoln  before  he  gets  to 
Washington,  and  they  may  attempt  to  do  it  while  he  is  passing 
over  our  road.  I  think  you  had  better  look  after  this  man  if 
possible.  This  information  is  perfectly  reliable.  I  have  nothing 
more  to  say  at  this  time.  I  shall  try  and  see  you  in  a  few  days." 

On  Feb.  I7th,  1861,  I  sent  a  telegram  to  you  requesting  you 
to  meet  me  at  the  President  Street  Depot,  in  Baltimore,  at  4.30 
p.  m.  On  the  iSth  you  telegraphed  me  in  reply  that  you  had 
so  much  to  say  to  me  that  it  would  take  considerable  time,  and 
asking  me  if  I  would  not  remain  over  night  in  Baltimore,  as 

24 


you  inferred  from  my  dispatch  that  it  was  my  intention  to  arrive 
on  the  4.30  p.  m.  train,  and  leave  on  the  5.15  p.  m.  train.  On 
the  i8th  of  February  I  sent  you  another  dispatch,  saying  that  if 
we  did  not  get  through  with  our  interview  I  would  remain  over. 

On  my  arrival  at  Baltimore  at  the  time  specified,  you  in 
formed  me  that  you  had  received  much  valuable  information,  and 
had  learned  that  my  information  was  correct  in  regard  to  the 
plot  to  assassinate  Mr.  Lincoln.  And  you  gave  me  what  infor 
mation  you  had  acquired  with  regard  to  the  plot.  I  felt  very 
solicitous  for  the  safety  of  Mr.  Lincoln;  but  there  was  a  deli 
cacy  with  me  in  relation  to  the  matter,  in  regard  to  the  action 
to  be  taken,  inasmuch  as  the  programme  of  the  route  of  Mr. 
Lincoln  to  Washington  was  published  as  via  Northern  Central 
Railroad,  from  Harrisburg  to  Baltimore,  and  that  road  was 
considered,  to  some  extent,  as  a  competing  road  to  our  road  from 
North  to  South.  But  it  was  finally  concluded  that  it  was  best 
that  you  should  communicate  at  once  with  Mr.  Judd,  a  personal 
friend  of  Mr.  Lincoln's,  upon  this  subject,  and  that  you  should 
see  Mr.  Felton  on  the  21  st,  in  Philadelphia.  You  accordingly 
wrote  me  that  you  had  written  Mr.  Judd,  informing  him  of 
the  particulars  of  the  plot,  and  had  it  sent  to  him,  in  New  York, 
by  a  trusty  messenger. 

On  the  21  st  of  February  you  met  Mr.  Felton  in  Philadelphia, 
and  he  informed  you  that  he  had  received  from  me  all  the  infor 
mation  you  had  given  me  while  in  Baltimore. 

On  the  22d  of  February  you  met  Mr.  Felton,  my  brother 
George,  Mr.  Kenney  and  myself  at  Mr.  Felton's  office,  in  the 
depot  at  Philadelphia.  After  considerable  discussion  as  to  what 
course  to  pursue,  it  was  finally  determined  that  I  should  go  to 
Baltimore  and  make  arrangements  for  the  holding  of  the  train 
from  there  to  Washington,  should  that  be  necessary,  as  it  had 
been  determined  on  the  night  of  the  21  st  by  Mr.  Lincoln,  that 
he  would  go  to  Harrisburg  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  and  return 
to  Philadelphia  on  the  same  night,  and  take  our  night  train 
from  there  to  Baltimore  and  thence  to  Washington.  And  in  case 
that  train  should  be  delayed,  the  Washington  train  from  Balti 
more  would  be  kept  until  it  arrived,  and  my  brother  George  was 
directed  to  telegraph  me  from  Wilmington  when  the  train  passed 

25 


there,  as  it  was  deemed  unsafe  to  do  so  from  Philadelphia.  The 
arrangement  also  was  that  if  the  train  was  likely  to  arrive  in 
Baltimore  on  time  I  should  say  nothing  to  the  officers  of  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  about  the  matter. 

On  the  night  of  the  22d  of  February,  1861,  Mr.  Kenney  and 
yourself  met  Mr.  Lincoln  at  the  West  Philadelphia  Depot,  and 
took  him  in  a  carriage  over  to  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington  and 
Baltimore  Railroad  Depot.  Mr.  Lincoln  took  a  berth  in  the 
sleeping  car,  and  at  eleven  p.  m.  the  train  left  the  depot  for 
Washington.  I  met  you  in  our  depot  at  Baltimore,  went  into 
the  sleeping  car  and  whispered  in  your  ear  "all  is  right,"  which 
seemed  to  be  welcome  news  to  you — it  certainly  was  to  me. 
Mr.  Lincoln  arrived  in  Washington  without  even  the  officers  of 
the  train  knowing  that  he  was  aboard. 

On  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Lincoln  in  Washington,  I  followed  him 
and  yourself  and  saw  you  safely  in  a  carriage  bound  for 
Willard's  hotel. 

On  the  26th  of  February  I  met  you  at  the  President  Street 
Depot  in  Baltimore,  where  we  talked  over  what  had  transpired — 
the  disappointment  of  the  secessionists  and  the  failure  of  their 
plans  to  assassinate  the  President.  I  then  informed  you  that 
Mr.  Felton  desired  that  you  should  remain  in  Baltimore  or 
Washington,  as  the  case  might  be,  until  after  the  inauguration  of 
Mr.  Lincoln,  and  that  you  should  keep  Mr.  Judd  informed  of  any 
attempt  that  might  be  made  to  assassinate  Mr.  Lincoln  on  the 
day  of  his  inauguration.  After  such  services  being  rendered  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  officers  of  the  Philadelphia,  Wilmington 
and  Baltimore  Railroad  Company,  your  bill  was  paid  by  the 
Railroad  Company. 

Yours,  truly,  WILLIAM  STEARNS. 


[LETTER  OF  H.  F.  KENNEY,  ESQ.] 
PHILADELPHIA,  WILMINGTON  AND  BALTIMORE  R.  R.  Co., 

PHILADELPHIA,  Dec.  23d,  1867. 

ALLAN  PINKERTON,  ESQ.,  Chicago,  111. 

Dear  Sir: — The  pressure  of  my  office  duties  has  been  such  as 
to  place  it  out  of  my  power  to  reply  sooner  to  your  letter  of 
I3th  inst,  expressing  a  wish  for  a  more  detailed  statement  than 
I  gave  you  in  mine  of  the  loth  inst.,  respecting  the  journey  of 
President  Lincoln  from  this  city  to  Washington,  on  the  night 
of  Feb.  22d,  1861. 

You  and  I  met  for  the  first  time  on  the  afternoon  of  that  day 
in  the  office  of  Mr.  S.  M.  Felton,  the  President  of  this  company. 
Mr.  Felton,  himself  and  Mr.  William  Stearns,  then  Master 
Mechanic  of  this  road,  being  present.  These  conclusions  were 
arrived  at,  as  to  the  best  arrangements  that  could  be  made  for 
getting  President  Lincoln  to  Washington  in  such  a  way  as  to 
defeat  the  plans  which  were  believed  to  have  been  matured  for 
the  assassination,  and  to  baffle  the  vigilance  with  which  his 
movements  were  watched  by  those  concerned  in  that  nefarious 
project. 

The  arrangements  having  been  decided  upon,  I  proceeded  to 
carry  out  the  portion  of  them  assigned  to  myself.  In  so  doing 
I  gave  orders  to  the  conductor  (Mr.  John  Litzenberg)  of  the 
10.50  p.  m.  train  of  that  night,  not  to  start  his  train  until  he 
had  instructions  to  do  so  from  myself  in  person.  By  way  of 
precluding  surmises  as  to  the  reason  for  this  order,  Mr.  Litzen 
berg  was  informed  that  he  would  receive  from  my  own  hand  an 
important  parcel  which  President  Felton  desired  should  be  deliv 
ered  early  in  the  morning  to  Mr.  E.  J.  Allen,  at  Willard's  Hotel, 
in  Washington. 

Then  at  a  later  hour  I  was  to  meet  you  at  depot  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  at  West  Philadelphia,  in  order 
to  bring  President  Lincoln  from  that  point  to  our  depot,  so  timing 
his  arrival  at  the  latter  place  as  to  secure,  as  far  as  possible, 
against  his  presence  there  being  noticed.  Accordingly,  I  pro 
ceeded  to  the  West  Philadelphia  depot,  and  we  met  there  at 
about  10  p.  m.  We  had  to  wait  but  a  short  time  when  a  special 

27 


train  arrived  with  but  one  passenger  car  attached,  from  which 
President  Lincoln,  with  Mr.  Ward  H.  Lamon  and  a  few  other 
gentlemen,  officers  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company, 
alighted.  Upon  their  alighting,  I  had  the  honor  of  being  intro 
duced  by  you  to  President  Lincoln,  and  he,  with  Mr.  Lamon, 
forthwith  got  into  the  carriage  which  had  been  provided  by  you, 
and  the  driver  of  which  was  placed  by  you  under  my  directions 
as  to  his  movements,  so  that  these  might  be  regulated  with  a  view 
of  reaching  our  depot  a  few  minutes  after  the  regular  starting 
time  of  our  train.  This  required  that  we  should  while  away 
time :  for  the  train  from  Harrisburg  had  arrived  considerably 
earlier  than  was  anticipated.  Accordingly,  after  you  had  taken 
your  seat  in  the  carriage  with  President  Lincoln  and  Mr.  Lamon, 
I  took  mine  alongside  of  the  driver,  and  directing  him  first  down 
Market  Street  as  far  as  Nineteenth,  then  up  that  street  as  far 
as  Vine  Street,  and  thence  to  Seventeenth  Street,  requesting  him 
to  proceed  down  that  street  slowly  as  if  on  the  lookout  for 
someone,  towards  our  depot.  Upon  reaching  the  immediate 
neighborhood  of  the  depot,  the  carriage  was  turned  into  the 
nearest  cross  street  (Carpenter),  so  that  its  occupants  might 
alight  in  the  shadow  of  the  yard  fence  there.  The  President  and 
Mr.  Lamon  under  your  guidance  then  entered  the  depot  and 
passed  through  to  the  sleeping  car,  where  you  had  secured  berths 
for  them.  I  followed  at  a  short  distance,  and  delivering  to  the 
conductor  the  parcel  he  was  to  wait  for,  gave  orders  for  the 
train  to  start.  It  was  at  once  put  in  motion,  the  time  being 
10.55  P-  m-j  five  minutes  after  the  regular  time  for  starting. 

These  are  the  particulars  so   far  as  my  agency  was  involved 
in  carrying  out  the  programme. 

Very  truly  yours, 

H.  F.  KENNEY, 

Sup  erin  tend  en  t. 


28 


[LETTER  OF  G.  C.  FRANCISCUS,  ESQ.] 

PENNSYLVANIA  RAILROAD  COMPANY, 

Office  of  General  Agent,  3003  Market  St., 

WEST  PHILADELPHIA,  November  5th,  1867. 
ALLAN  PINKERTON,  ESQ.,  Chicago,  111. 

Dear  Sir: — In  reply  to  yours  of  the  3ist  tilt.,  I  submit  the 
following  statement: 

On  the  night  of  February  2ist,  1861,  between  11  and  12 
o'clock,  you  called  at  my  office  at  West  Philadelphia  and  re 
quested  me  to  accompany  you  to  the  Continental  Hotel.  On  my 
way  there  you  stated  that  a  plot  existed  to  assassinate  Mr. 
Lincoln,  while  on  his  way  through  Baltimore,  and  you  desired 
to  arrange  for  a  special  train  to  bring  him  from  Harrisburg  to 
Philadelphia,  on  the  following  night,  Feb.  22d,  to  leave  the 
former  place  about  dark,  and  arrive  here  in  time  to  take  the 
ii  p.  m.  train  for  Washington.  I  replied  that  it  could  be  done. 
When  we  reached  the  hotel  you  conducted  me  to  a  room  where 
we  found  Mr.  Judd  and  several  others.  The  details  of  the  pro 
posed  trip  were  discussed  and  arranged  conditionally.  Mr. 
Lincoln  not  having  fully  decided  to  yield  to  the  wishes  of  his 
friends,  reserved  his  final  decision  until  morning. 

On  the  following  morning,  Feb.  22d,  after  we  had  left  West 
Philadelphia,  with  Mr.  Lincoln  and  party,  Mr.  Judd  said  to  me: 
"Mr.  Frederick  Seward  arrived  from  Washington,  bringing  a 
note  from  his  father  and  Gen.  Scott,  the  contents  of  which 
have  decided  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  the  trip  will  be  made  as  arranged 
by  Mr.  Pinkerton  last  night." 

Mr.  Enoch  Lewis  (our  General  Superintendent  at  that  time) 
being  on  the  train,  I  informed  him  of  the  arrangements  made 
with  you,  and  he  joined  me  in  perfecting  and  carrying  them  out. 

We  left  Harrisburg  between  5  and  6  p.  m.,  with  Mr.  Lincoln, 
and  on  arrival  at  West  Philadelphia  found  you  waiting  with  a 
carriage  to  take  him  to  the  Baltimore  depot. 

In  regard  to  the  mode  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  leaving  the  hotel,  at 
Harrisburg,  I  will  state  that  I  called  at  Coverly's  with  a  carriage, 
at  the  hour  agreed  upon,  and  found  him  dining  with  a  large 
company,  which  it  was  difficult  for  him  to  leave  without  attract- 

29 


ing  attention.  After  several  unsuccessful  attempts  he  finally 
rose,  took  Gov.  Curtin's  arm,  and  walked  out  the  front  hall  door, 
across  the  pavement  into  the  carriage,  dressed  just  as  he  left 
the  table,  with  the  single  exception  of  a  soft  wool  hat  that  he 
drew  from  his  coat  pocket  and  put  on;  he  had  neither  cloak, 
overcoat  nor  shawl,  but  as  we  approached  Philadelphia,  I  gave 
him  my  overcoat,  which  he  wore  until  he  was  seated  with  you 
and  Mr.  Lamon  in  the  carriage. 

Referring   to  your   last  question,    I   would   say   that   nothing 
unusual  occurred  on  the  trip  from  Harrisburg  to  Philadelphia. 

The  party  in  the  car  consisted  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  Mr.  Lamon, 
Mr.  Enoch  Lewis,  John  Pitcairn,  Jr.,  and  myself. 

Yours  respectfully,  G.  C.    FRANCISCUS, 

General  Agent  Pennsylvania  Railroad. 


[LETTER  OF  ENOCH  LEWIS,  ESQ.] 
PHILADELPHIA,  PENN.,  November  7th,  1867. 

ALLAN  PINKERTON,  ESQ.,  Chicago,  111. 

Dear  Sir: — In  reply  to  your  favor  of  the  31  st  ult.,  I  would 
say  that  on  the  2ist  of  Feb.,  1861,  I  was  in  Philadelphia  in  the 
way  of  business  as  General  Superintendent  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad,  to  arrange  for  the  movement  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  then 
President-elect  of  the  United  States,  by  special  train  from  Phila 
delphia  to  Harrisburg,  on  the  22d  inst. ;  it  being  understood  that 
he  was  to  proceed  on  the  23d  from  Harrisburg,  by  the  Northern 
Central  Railroad  to  Baltimore  and  thence  to  Washington.  On 
that  evening  (the  2ist),  I  met  Mr.  Judd  in  Philadelphia  by  ap 
pointment,  in  company  with  Mr.  G.  C.  Franciscus,  Superintend 
ent  of  the  Philadelphia  Division,  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  and  was 
informed  by  him  that  in  consequence  of  the  apprehended  danger 
of  the  assassination  of  Mr.  Lincoln  whilst  passing  through  Balti 
more,  it  was  desired  to  change  his  route  to  the  capitol,  and  to 
bring  him  back  privately  from  Harrisburg  to  Philadelphia,  on 
the  evening  of  the  22d,  and  to  take  him  by  the  regular  night 
train  from  Philadelphia  to  Washington,  through  Baltimore.  I,  of 
course,  agreed  to  make  any  necessary  arrangements  so  far  as 
our  road  was  concerned.  On  the  22d  of  Feb.,  I  accompanied 
Mr.  Lincoln  in  the  special  train  from  Philadelphia  to  Harrisburg; 
arrangements  were  quietly  made  for  a  special  train,  ostensibly  to 
take  Division  Superintendent  and  myself  back  to  the  city;  it 
was  stationed  just  below  the  town  soon  after  dark,  where  I 
awaited  the  coming  of  Mr.  Lincoln.  Early  in  the  evening  Mr. 
Franciscus  brought  Mr.  Lincoln,  accompanied  only  by  Ward 
H.  Lamon,  to  it.  We  started,  and  without  interruption  reached 
Philadelphia  in  time  for  the  night  train  to  Washington.  The  only 
persons  on  the  train  which  was  run  from  Harrisburg  to  Philadel 
phia,  on  the  evening  of  the  22d,  besides  the  engineer  and  fireman, 
were  Messrs.  Lincoln  and  Ward  H.  Lamon,  G.  C.  Franciscus, 
Division  Superintendent;  John  Pitcairn,  Jr.,  in  charge  of  tele 
graph  instrument;  T.  E.  Garrett,  General  Baggage  Agent,  and 
myself.  When  the  train  reached  West  Philadelphia  you  met 
us  at  the  platform  and  escorted  Messrs.  Lincoln  and  Lamon  to  a 


carriage  into  which  I  saw  you  three  get,  and  drive  rapidly  away 
in  the  direction  of  the  Baltimore  Depot. 

I  saw  no  change  in  Mr.  Lincoln's  costume  except  that  during 
the  day  he  wore  a  silk  or  beaver  hat,  and  in  the  evening  one  of 
soft  felt. 

Respectfully,  ENOCH  LEWIS, 

Formerly  Gen.  Supt.  Penn.  R.  R. 


[LETTER  OF  JOHN  PITCAIRN,  JR.,  ESQ.] 

PHILADELPHIA  AND  ERIE  RAILROAD, 
Superintendent's  Office,  Middle  Div., 

RENOVO,  PENN.,  Nov.  23d,  1867. 

ALLAN  PINKERTON,  ESQ. 

Dear  Sir: — Your  favor  of  the  Qth  inst,  asking  me  for  a 
statement  in  regard  to  the  passage  of  Mr.  Lincoln  from  Harris- 
burg  to  Philadelphia  on  the  night  of  the  22d  of  February,  1861, 
is  at  hand.  I  was  on  the  special  train  which  conveyed  the  Presi 
dential  party  from  Philadelphia  to  Harrisburg,  having  with  me 
a  telegraphic  instrument  in  order  to  connect  with  the  wires 
should  an  accident  occur  making  it  necessary. 

Shortly  after  the  arrival  of  the  train  at  Harrisburg,  Mr.  G.  C. 
Franciscus,  Superintendent,  directed  me  to  proceed  with  a  loco 
motive  and  passenger  car  to  a  road-crossing  at  the  lower  end 
of  Harrisburg,  and  there  to  await  his  coming. 

About  dusk  a  carriage  was  driven  up  and  Messrs.  G.  C.  Fran 
ciscus,  Enoch  Lewis, Lamon  and  finally  Mr.  Lincoln  stepped 

out  and  entered  the  passenger  car,  the  signal  was  given  to  the 
engineer,  and  we  were  on  our  way  to  Philadelphia. 

The  lamps  of  the  car  were  not  lighted,  and  in  darkness  we 
went  swiftly  along  until  we  reached  Downington,  where  we 
stopped  for  water  for  the  locomotive. 

At  this  place  all  the  gentlemen  excepting  Mr.  Lincoln  got  out 
of  the  car  for  a  lunch.  A  cup  of  tea  and  a  roll  was  taken  to  him 
in  the  car. 

We  were  soon  again  on  our  way  to  Philadelphia,  where  we 
arrived  between  ten  and  eleven  o'clock. 

A  carriage  was  found  waiting,  into  which  Mr.  Lincoln  and 
Mr.  Lamon  stepped,  and  were  driven  rapidly  off  without  attract 
ing  the  least  attention,  not  even  the  engineer  or  fireman  of  the 
train  knowing  of  the  illustrious  passenger  they  had  conveyed 
from  Harrisburg  to  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Lincoln  on  this  occasion  wore  a  light  felt  hat  and  had  a 
gentleman's  shawl  thrown  over  his  shoulders  when  he  stepped 
from  the  carriage  to  the  car  at  Harrisburg.  He  did  not,  how 
ever,  wear  the  shawl  in  stepping  out  of  the  car  at  Philadelphia. 

33 


This  is  all  that  I  know  personally  in  regard  to  the  matter. 

I  afterwards  learned,  however,  from  Mr.  Franciscus  that 
you  had  an  interview  with  Mr.  Lincoln  at  the  Continental  Hotel 
the  evening  previous,  and  had  informed  him  of  the  probability  of 
his  assassination  in  Baltimore,  and  after  considerable  difficulty 
he  was  persuaded  to  go  to  Washington  incognito  in  the  manner 
stated. 

Yours  truly,  JOHN  PITCAIRN,  JR. 


34 


[LETTER  OF  GEO.  R.  DUNN,  ESQ.] 

THE  NEW  JERSEY  EXPRESS  COMPANY, 

SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE, 

NEWARK,  N.  J.,  November  7th,  1867. 

ALLAN   PINKERTON,   ESQ.,   Pinkerton's   National   Police  Agency, 
Chicago,  111. 

My  Dear  Sir: — Your  letter  of  the  31  st  ult.,  covering  some 
printed  extracts  from  Lossing's  History,  did  not  reach  me  until 
the  evening  of  the  5th  inst,  owing  to  my  absence  on  business. 

On  reading  your  letter  and  the  extracts,  I  was  somewhat 
surprised  to  see  that  others  were  trying  to  take  the  credit  of 
Mr.  Lincoln's  trip  from  Philadelphia  to  Washington,  when  it 
does  not  belong  to  them. 

My  recollection  of  the  facts  is  perfectly  plain,  and  as  facts 
seem  to  be  much  wanted  in  this  matter,  I  will  relate  them. 

I  distinctly  recollect  that  February  morning,  when  you  en 
tered  my  office,  Chestnut  Street,  near  Third,  Philadelphia,  about 
6.30,  and  said  you  desired  my  assistance,  immediately,  in  an 
important  matter;  it  was  imperative  that  I  should  go  to  Balti 
more  in  the  8  a.  m.  train;  when  at  Baltimore  to  proceed  to  a 
given  place  and  meet  some  party  to  whom  I  was  directed  by  you. 
After  seeing  this  party,  and  communicating  my  business,  I  was 
to  telegraph  you,  and  return  by  the  afternoon  train  to  Philadel 
phia,  and  communicate  with  Mrs.  Warne,  whom  I  knew  by  sight, 
and  whom  I  would  find  in  the  ladies'  room  at  the  Baltimore 
Depot.  In  my  conversation  with  Mrs.  Warne,  whom  I  met  ac 
cording  to  agreement,  she  told  me  that  you  desired  me  to  pur 
chase  tickets  and  sleeping  car  berths  for  an  invalid  friend,  you 
and  herself,  and  to  make  such  arrangements  for  getting  the  party 
into  the  car  quietly,  as  quiet  was  necessary  for  the  invalid — also 
to  stay  until  you  arrived.  In  turning  the  matter  over  in  my 
mind,  I  thought  the  best  berths  under  the  circumstances  would 
be  the  rear  ones,  so  I  got  the  tickets  for  them  and  made  an  ar 
rangement  with  the  person  in  charge  of  the  sleeping  car  to  have 
the  rear  door  opened  when  I  desired.  The  person's  name  was 

35 


Knox.  At  first  he  declined,  but  an  explanation  of  the  fact  that 
it  was  for  the  accommodation  of  an  invalid,  who  would  arrive 
late,  and  did  not  desire  to  be  carried  through  the  narrow  passage 
way  of  the  crowded  car,  he  consented  to  the  arrangement.  After 
this  was  effected,  I  waited  on  Mrs.  Warne,  in  the  ladies'  room, 
told  her  what  I  had  done,  at  which  she  expressed  her  satisfaction, 
and  requested  to  be  shown  to  her  berth  in  the  car,  which  was 
done. 

I  then  took  my  position  on  the  platform,  and  waited  until 
yourself  and  party  arrived,  which  you  did,  about  five  minutes 
before  eleven.  That  party  consisted  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  yourself 
and  another,  whom  I  was  subsequently  informed  was  a  Mr.  La- 
mon.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  dressed  in  an  ordinary  sack  overcoat, 
felt  hat;  I  think  they  were  called  Kossuth  hats,  with  a  muffler 
around  his  throat,  and  carried  a  traveling  bag  in  his  hand.  So 
soon  as  the  party  was  on  the  train  the  cars  were  started.  I  think 
the  railroad  officers  who  detained  that  train  for  the  special  pur 
pose  could  bear  testimony  as  to  whose  instigation  the  train  was 
delayed,  and  give  evidence  of  your  part  of  the  transaction. 

There  may  be  some  points  that  I  have  left  out,  but  the  facts 
of  this  letter  are  not  to  be  denied. 

Respectfully  yours,  GEO.  R.  DUNN. 


[LETTER  OF  Gov.  CURTIN.] 

BELLEFONTE,  December  8th,  1867. 

Sir: — You  ask  me  in  your  letter  of  the  nth  of  November 
last  to  "give  you  a  statement  of  what  transpired  between  your 
self  and  Mr.  Lincoln  upon  the  night  prior  to  his  leaving  Harris- 
burg,  and  as  to  whether  Mr.  Lincoln  was  in  any  disguise  at  the 
time." 

Mr.  Lincoln  arrived  in  Harrisburg  about  noon  on  the  22d  of 
February,  1861,  and  as  previously  arranged,  I  met  him  at  the 
entrance  of  the  Jones  House,  on  the  corner  of  the  Market  Square 
of  the  city.  We  passed  upstairs  and  then  to  a  balcony,  where 
he  replied  to  some  words  of  welcome  which  I  addressed  to  him. 
He  was  then  taken  in  a  carriage  to  the  hall  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  when  he  was  addressed  by  the  Speaker  and  made 
a  reply.  On  our  way  back  to  the  hotel  he  asked  me  to  dine  with 
him,  and  after  we  entered  the  house,  communicated  to  me  pri 
vately  the  fact  that  a  conspiracy  had  been  discovered  to  assassi 
nate  him  in  Baltimore  on  his  way  through  that  city  the  next  day. 
I  remember  quite  well  that  Mr.  Lincoln  mentioned  your  name  in 
connection  with  information  he  received  on  the  way,  and  my 
impression  is  that  he  stated  he  met  you  in  Philadelphia  and  there 
received  the  information  from  you.  He  said  at  the  same  time 
that  definite  information  had  been  sent  to  him  from  Wm.  H. 
Seward  by  his  son  Frederick.  He  then  said  his  friends  were 
anxious  that  he  should  go  by  way  of  Philadelphia  as  privately  as 
possible,  and  that  those  who  were  informed  of  the  conspiracy 
were  extremely  solicitous  that  he  would  not  expose  himself  to 
the  threatened  danger  in  Baltimore.  He  seemed  pained  and  sur 
prised  that  a  design  to  take  his  life  existed,  and  although  much 
concerned  for  his  personal  safety  as  well  as  for  the  peace  of  the 
country,  he  was  very  calm,  and  neither  in  his  conversation  or 
manner  exhibited  alarm  or  fear. 

When  he  had  determined  to  go  to  Washington  by  Philadel 
phia,  and  the  arrangements  were  made,  he  put  on  his  overcoat  and 
hat  (it  was  a  felt  hat  such  as  were  in  common  use  at  that  time) 
and  taking  my  arm  we  passed  through  the  hall  of  the  hotel  and 
downstairs  to  a  carriage  in  waiting  at  the  door.  We  drove  down 
the  street  and  by  the  house  in  which  I  lived  to  the  train.  The 

37 


halls,  stairways  and  pavements  in  front  of  the  house  were  much 
crowded,  and  no  doubt  the  impression  prevailed  that  Mr.  Lin 
coln  was  going  to  the  Executive  Mansion  with  me.  To  avoid 
inquiries  I  remained  in  the  house  when  repeated  calls  were 
made  by  persons  who  supposed  he  was  there.  It  was  regarded  as 
eminently  proper  that  it  should  not  be  generally  known  that  Mr. 
Lincoln  had  left  Harrisburg,  but  he  neither  assumed  nor  sug 
gested  any  disguise  of  any  kind. 

No  doubt  the  gentlemen  who  accompanied  Mr.  Lincoln  were 
privy  to  all  the  arrangements  made  in  reference  to  his  journey. 
I  had  no  conversation  with  any  of  them  that  occurs  to  me  now 
on  the  subject.  He  gave  me  all  the  knowledge  I  had,  and  what 
was  done  was  discussed  before  it  occurred. 

You  thus  have  substantially  the  circumstances  attending  his 
visit  to  Harrisburg  and  his  departure  for  Washington  so  far  as 
I  had  any  connection  with  the  events. 

Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  G.  CURTIN. 
ALLAN  PINKERTON,  ESQ. 


TIMOTHY  WEBSTER 

I860 


[LETTER  OF  H.  E.  THAYER.] 

PHILADELPHIA,  Nov.  3d,  1867. 

ALLAN  PINKERTON,  ESQ.,  Principal  National  Police  Association, 
Chicago,  111. 

Dear  Sir:— I  am  in  receipt  of  yours  of  3ist  ult,  enclosing 
"Extracts  from  Lossing's  History  of  the  War,"  one  of  which  is 
a  copy  of  a  letter  from  John  A.  Kennedy,  General  Superintend 
ent  Metropolitan  Police,  New  York,  in  which  Mr.  Kennedy  claims 
for  himself  and  David  S.  Bookstaver,  of  the  Metropolitan  Police, 
the  honor  of  having  prevented  the  assassination  of  Mr.  Lincoln 
at  Baltimore  in  February,  1861.  In  your  letter  you  request  a 
statement  of  my  connection  in  the  matter,  and  what  I  know  of 
it,  viz. :  The  passage  of  Mr.  Lincoln  from  Harrisburg  to  Wash 
ington  via  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore,  on  the  night  of  Feb.  22d, 
1861. 

In  February,  1861,  I  was  Manager  of  the  American  Tele 
graph  Office  in  this  city.  On  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  February 
I  was  introduced  at  my  office  by  W.  P.  Westervelt,  Superin 
tendent,  to  Geo.  H.  Burns,  Confidential  Agent  of  E.  S.  Sanford, 
Esq.,  President  of  the  American  Telegraph  Company,  who  in 
formed  me  that  a  plot  had  been  discovered  in  Baltimore  to 
assassinate  the  President-elect  on  his  passage  through  that  city, 
and  it  had  been  arranged  that  Mr.  Lincoln  should  go  through 
from  Harrisburg  to  Washington  privately  on  the  night  of  the 
22d,  and  it  was  desired  to  prevent  any  possibility  of  the  fact  of 
the  President's  departure  from  Harrisburg  being  telegraphed 
from  Harrisburg  to  Baltimore;  that  the  telegraph  wires  on  the 
line  of  the  Northern  Central  Railroad,  from  Harrisburg  to  Balti 
more,  should  be  cut,  so  as  to  prevent  communication  from  passing 
by  that  route,  and  asked  if  I  had  a  trusty  man  to  do  the  work.  I 
replied  that  I  had,  and  detailed  Andrew  Wynne,  my  lineman,  for 
the  service;  provided  him  with  a  coil  of  copper  wire  and  gave 
him  instructions  to  attach  a  ground  wire  to  each  of  the  two  line 
wires  at  the  back  of  a  pole,  and  if  possible  to  cut  the  line  wires 
and  make  the  ground  connections  on  both  sides  and  leaving  the 
line  attached  to  the  pole  so  that  parties  who  might  be  sent  out 
to  hunt  for  the  difficulty  would  not  discover  the  trouble  for  some 

39 


time;  at  least,  until  long  after  Mr.  Lincoln  should  have  arrived 
at  Washington. 

W.  P.  Westervelt,  Esq.,  Superintendent,  was  to  accompany 
Mr.  Wynne  to  Harrisburg.  They  can  speak  for  themselves  as 
to  how  the  work  was  done.  Mr.  Wynne  reported  on  the  23d, 
having  successfully  accomplished  his  mission,  having  cut  and 
grounded  both  wires. 

On  the  morning  of  the  22d,  I  also  promised  Mr.  Burns  that 
I  would  myself  be  on  duty  at  my  office  during  the  night  and  until 
Mr.  Lincoln's  arrival  in  Washington,  to  see  that  no  despatches 
passed  over  the  wires  from  Harrisburg  to  Baltimore,  giving 
information,  and  also  to  receive  and  deliver  to  the  St.  Louis 
Hotel  any  despatches  that  might  come  for  "J.  H.  Hutchinson." 
I  was  on  guard  on  that  eventful  night  all  night.  Early  in  the 
evening  a  despatch  came  from  Harrisburg  for  "J-  H.  Hutchinson," 
I  think,  from  Burns,  announcing  the  departure.  No  despatches 
came  from  Harrisburg  to  Baltimore. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  23d,  a  despatch  was  received, 
announcing  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Lincoln  in  Washington,  and  that 
he  was  met  at  the  depot  by  Hon.  W.  H.  Seward.  I  then  left  the 
operating  room  and  went  home. 

Mr.  Burns  afterwards  informed  me  that  Allan  Pinkerton  had 
saved  Mr.  Lincoln's  life,  and  subsequently  introduced  me  to  you 
as  Allan  Pinkerton,  alias  J.  H.  Hutchinson. 

This  is  the  substance  of  my  knowledge  of  the  matter.  I  have 
always  believed,  and,  in  fact,  know,  that  you  took  Mr.  Lincoln 
from  Philadelphia  to  Washington  on  that  eventful  night,  and 
to  you  is  due  the  honor  of  having  saved  the  life  of  Mr.  Lincoln 
and  the  country  its  President-elect. 

Yours  truly,  H.  E.  THAYER. 


40 


[LETTER  OF  ANDREW  WYNNE,  ESQ.] 

PHILADELPHIA,  Nov.  3d,  1867. 

A.    PlNKERTON,    ESQ. 

Dear  Sir: — Your  note  of  Oct.  3ist  received,  and  in  reply 
have  to  state  that  I  am  the  person  who  cut  the  wires  between 
Harrisburg  and  Baltimore,  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the 
report  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  departure  on  that  occasion.  The  facts 
of  the  case  are  as  follows : 

On  the  morning  of  February  22d,  1861,  I  was  employed  in  the 
office  of  the  American  Telegraph  Company,  Philadelphia,  and 
received  orders  from  H.  E.  Thayer,  Manager,  to  hold  myself 
in  readiness  for  important  duty  in  the  course  of  an  hour.  Before 
that  time  had  expired,  Mr.  Thayer  asked  me  if  I  had  any  ob 
jections  to  fix  the  wires  of  another  company  so  as  to  prevent  any 
communications  passing  over  them.  I  answered  I  would  not  in 
some  cases.  Mr.  Thayer  then  stated  that  the  life  of  President 
Lincoln  was  in  great  danger,  and  that  he  (Mr.  Thayer)  wanted 
some  good  man  he  could  depend  upon  to  cut  the  wires  between 
Harrisburg  and  Baltimore.  I  replied,  under  that  circumstance 
I  would.  He  then  gave  me  orders  to  proceed  to  Harrisburg  in 
the  next  train  in  company  with  W.  P.  Westervelt,  Superintendent. 
We  proceeded  to  Harrisburg  with  necessary  tools,  fine  copper 
wire,  etc.  Arriving  in  Harrisburg,  we  met  Capt.  Burns.  We  three 
then  proceeded  to  the  office  of  the  telegraph  company,  and  I 
traced  the  wires  through  the  city  and  found  the  wires  that  were 
necessary  to  cut.  Capt.  Burns,  W.  P.  Westervelt  and  myself 
walked  south  of  the  city  about  two  miles.  I  then  climbed  the 
pole  and  put  fine  copper  ground  wire  on  wires  between  Harris 
burg  and  Baltimore,  which  prevented  all  communication  passing 
over  them.  I  then  returned  to  telegraph  office  in  Harrisburg 
and  asked  the  operator  there  to  send  a  message  for  me  to 
Baltimore — when  the  operator  stated  he  could  not,  as  all  com 
munication  with  Baltimore  was  cut  off.  I  reported  the  fact  to 

41 


Capt.  Burns  and  W.  P.  Westervelt.  They  thanked  me,  and 
requested  me  to  stay  in  Harrisburg  that  night  and  return  to  Phil 
adelphia  next  morning,  which  I  did.  When  I  returned  I  met 
Mr.  Thayer.  He  told  me  he  had  been  on  duty  all  night  so  as  to 
prevent  any  communication  passing  over  the  wires  of  the  Ameri 
can  Company.  I  received  his  thanks  for  the  part  which  I  had 
taken. 

The  foregoing  is  a  truthful  statement  of  what  passed. 

Yours  respectfully,  ANDREW  WYNNE. 


42 


RODE &  BRAND 

NEW  YORK 


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M138339 


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